Matobo Hills: so beautiful that it became the final resting place of Cecil Rhodes
So dramatically beautiful is the scenery in Matobo Hills National Park that Cecil Rhodes, the founder of Zimbabwe, chose it as his final resting place. We're certain our discerning clients will instantly see why, but this compact and easily accessible game park, just half an hour’s drive south of Bulawayo, is seriously underrated by most visitors. Which is good news for you: you'll feel you have the place to yourself.
And what a place it is. The kopjes, immense piles of red-tinged granite boulders, were considered sacred by the Ndebele people who gave this area its name, ‘the Bald Heads’. Matobo Hills is rich in wildlife, from white rhino to what may be Africa’s largest concentrations of leopard and black eagle. There are no lion or elephant here, so you can explore with your personal guide safely on foot for a more immersive experience.
Drop by to pay a visit to Rhodes’ grave site, marked by a brass plaque in the rock. Here you will find some of the best views of the park. But your guide can also take you to see something just as precious: the fascinating rock paintings left over the centuries by San tribesmen.